Baghel meets Venugopal, conveys a report on the Punjab leadership problem

Congress President and former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. File Image | Photo credit: PTI

Amid the struggles in the Punjab Congress, the party’s state president Bhupesh Baghel met AICC general secretary KC Venugopal on Wednesday (July 15, 2026) and conveyed his message.

Congress Legislature Party leader in the State Assembly Partap Singh Bajwa also met Mr. Venugopal at his residence but did not reveal what transpired during the meeting.

Mr. Baghel’s report is based on days of negotiations and one-on-one meetings with heads of state.

A section of state leaders rebelled against the party high command’s decision to continue with Amarinder Singh Raja Warring as the State Congress chief.

The rebel group is led by former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and other state leaders.

Mr. Baghel said his report is based on meetings with state leaders during his stay in Punjab.

“I visited Punjab for six days where I met the leaders and heard them all, including at the Punjab Congress office and during individual meetings. After meeting all and holding discussions with the Punjab leaders, I submitted my report to AICC General Secretary, Organisation, KC Venugopal,” Mr Baghel told reporters.

Asked if he had recommended a change in the state leadership to end the fighting in the Punjab unit, Mr. Baghel said, “How can I tell you what message I gave to the party leadership?”

He said he held one-on-one talks with all the party leaders and then conveyed his report to the leadership.

After returning from abroad, Rahul held a crucial meeting with party president Mallikarjun Kharg here and is learned to have discussed the leadership crisis ahead of the assembly elections due early next year.

Mr. Gandhi and Kharge have summoned Mr. Baghel to Delhi, where he is likely to hold discussions with the top leadership on Wednesday and find an amicable solution to the leadership crisis.

According to sources, Mr Gandhi is willing to listen to the views of Punjab leaders and is keen to quell the infighting within the state unit as soon as possible.

The party leadership fears that the Congress cannot head into the assembly elections with the ongoing struggle in the state unit.

The decision by the Congress high command to retain Amarinder Singh Raja Warring as the Punjab unit commander sparked dissent within the state unit, with senior leaders including former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Randhawa openly opposing the move.

Mr. Baghel, a former chief minister of Chhattisgarh, spent the last few days in Punjab meeting various leaders to take stock of the situation.

Published – 15 July 2026 14:40 IST